NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Dares to Dance with the Sun: Survives Epic Close Encounter!

A NASA spacecraft has made history by surviving the closest approach ever to the Sun.

Scientists received a signal from the Parker Solar Probe just before midnight EST on Thursday (05:00 GMT on Friday) after losing contact with it for several days.

NASA announced that the probe is “safe” and operating normally following its passage just 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) from the solar surface.

The probe entered our outer atmosphere on Christmas Eve, enduring harsh temperatures and intense radiation while striving to enhance our comprehension of solar mechanics.

NASA was patiently awaiting the signal, which they anticipated at 05:00 GMT on 28 December.

Traveling at speeds up to 430,000 mph (692,000 kph), the spacecraft endured temperatures reaching 1,800F (980C), as reported on the NASA website.

“This close examination of the Sun enables the Parker Solar Probe to gather data that will assist scientists in better understanding how material in this region heats to millions of degrees, trace the origin of the solar wind (a continuous flow of material escaping the Sun), and discover how energetic particles accelerate to near light speed,” stated the agency.

Dr. Nicola Fox, director of science at NASA, informed BBC News: “For centuries, humanity has observed the Sun, but one cannot truly experience the atmosphere of a location until you physically go there.”

“Thus, we cannot genuinely experience the atmosphere of our star unless we traverse through it.”

The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018, aimed towards the core of our solar system.

It has already orbited the Sun 21 times, getting ever closer, but the Christmas Eve encounter is a record-setting event.

During its closest approach, the probe was only 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) from our star’s surface.

This distance may not seem very close, but Dr. Fox provided perspective. “We are located 93 million miles from the Sun, so if I place the Sun and Earth one meter apart, the Parker Solar Probe would be just 4cm from the Sun – thus its proximity.”

The probe endured temperatures of 1,400C and radiation that could damage its onboard electronics.

It is protected by an 11.5cm (4.5in) thick carbon-composite shield, but the spacecraft’s strategy is to quickly enter and exit.

In fact, it moves faster than any human-created object, racing at 430,000 mph – equivalent to flying from London to New York in less than 30 seconds.

The remarkable speed of the Parker comes from the powerful gravitational force it experiences as it falls towards the Sun.

So why go to all dis effort to “touch” di Sun?

Researchers dey hope say as di spacecraft don pass through di outer atmosphere of our star – im corona – go collect data wey go unravel one long-standing puzzle.

“Di corona dey really, really hot, and we no sabi why,” Dr Jenifer Millard explain – she be astronomer from Fifth Star Labs for Wales.

“Di surface of di Sun dey around 6,000C or so, but di corona, dis fine outer atmosphere wey you fit see during solar eclipses, dey reach millions of degrees – and dat no even dey close to di Sun. So wetin dey make dat atmosphere hotter?”

Di mission suppose also aid scientists in better understanding solar wind – di constant flow of charged particles wey dey burst out from di corona.

Wen dis particles meet di Earth’s magnetic field, di sky dey light up with stunning auroras.

But dis so-called space weather fit also cause issues, as e fit disrupt power grids, electronics and communication systems.

“Understanding di Sun, im activity, space weather, di solar wind, dey very crucial to our daily lives on Earth,” Dr Millard tok.

Nasa scientists been dey anxious during Christmas wen di spacecraft don lose connection wit Earth.

Dr Fox expect say di team go text her a green heart emoji to confirm say di probe dey alright.

She state say she dey apprehensive about di bold undertaking, but she get confidence for di probe.

“I go dey concern about di spacecraft. But we don truly design am to withstand all of dis harsh, harsh conditions. Na one resilient spacecraft.”